Claims
- 1. A laminate film comprising (i) a liquid absorptive inner layer useful for imparting flavor and color evenly to meat, and (ii) an outer impermeable barrier layer wherein:
(A) the inner layer comprises a polymer selected from: block copolyether ester polymers or block copolyether amide polymers; and (B) the outer impermeable film layer is a single film layer, or a laminate or multilayer film comprising: (a) at least one polymer layer comprising a polymer selected from polymers in the group consisting of: polyamides or mixtures thereof, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers; polyvinylidene chloride; polyolefins; or mixtures of any of these; and (b) optionally at least one tie layer.
- 2. The film of claim 1 wherein the absorptive layer comprises a copolyether ester or a copolyetheramide polymer having a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least about 1200 g·25 micron/m2·24 hrs.
- 3. The film of claim 2 wherein the absorptive layer has an MVTR of from about 1200 to about 20,000 g·25 micron/m2·24 hrs.
- 4. The film of claim 3 wherein the absorptive layer is a copolyether ester comprising a long chain ester, wherein the ester is obtained from an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolyether glycol having a molecular weight of about 2150.
- 5. The film of claim 1 wherein the film is a blown film or a cast film.
- 6. The film of claim 5 wherein the film is a cast film.
- 7. The film of claim 5 wherein the film is a blown film.
- 8. The film of claim 1 wherein the film is biaxially oriented.
- 9. An article comprising a film of claim 1 wherein the film has been formed into a casing or a bag.
- 10. The article of claim 9 further comprising at least one food-processing material selected from liquid flavorants and liquid colorants.
- 11. The article of claim 10 wherein the food-processing material is liquid smoke.
- 12. A process of manufacturing a laminate film as claimed in claim 1 comprising the steps of:
1) coextruding a multilayer extrudate comprising an absorptive inner layer of claim 1; and, 2) cooling the extrudate to form a laminate film.
- 13. A process of manufacturing an oriented tubular film comprising the steps of:
1) coextruding an multilayer extrudate comprising an absorptive inner layer of claim 1;2) processing the extrudate of step (1) through an annular die to form a well-quenched primary tube; 3) orienting the tube by (a) heating the tube followed by (b) simultaneously inflating the heated tube and operating differential speed nip rollers for transverse direction orientation and machine direction orientation, respectively.
- 14. A process of manufacturing the film of claim 1 comprising the steps:
(1) coextruding or coextrusion laminating a multilayer extrudate comprising the absorptive inner layer and the impermeable outer layer of claim 1;(2) processing the extrudate of step (1) through a flat die to form a well-quenched primary sheet; (3) orienting the sheet by means of a tenterframe stretcher, through (a) traverse of a widening frame for transverse direction orientation and (b) operation of differential speed nip or conveying rollers for machine direction orientation, wherein steps (3)(a) and (3)(b) may occur either simultaneously or sequentially in any order.
- 15. A method of processing a foodstuff comprising the steps:
(1) treating a film of claim 1 by contacting the film with at least one food-processing material; (2) contacting the treated film of step (1) with foodstuff; and (3) heating the foodstuff in the presence of the treated film.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the food-processing material is liquid smoke.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the film is in the form of a tubular casing or bag.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the foodstuff is sausage.
- 19. A foodstuff that is processed using the method claim 15.
- 20. The foodstuff of claim 19 wherein the film is in the form of a tubular casing or bag.
- 21. The foodstuff of claim 19 that is processed using liquid smoke as the food-processing material.
- 22. The foodstuff of claim 19 wherein the foodstuff is sausage
- 23. A food package comprising a film of claim 1, wherein the package has an absorptive film that absorbs liquid from packaged food inside of the package and simultaneously keeps moisture in the package.
- 24. The package of claim 23 wherein the absorptive layer comprises a copolyether ester or a copolyetheramide polymer having an MVTR of at least about 1200 g·25 micron/m2·24 hrs.
- 25. The package of claim 24 wherein the absorptive layer is a copolyether ester comprising a long chain ester, wherein the ester is obtained from an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolyether glycol having a molecular weight of about 2150.
- 26. The package of claim 25 wherein the film is a blown film or a cast film.
- 27. The process of claim 12 wherein the extrudate is processed through an annular die.
- 28. The process of claim 12 wherein the extrudate is processed through a flat die.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/425,604, filed Nov. 12, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60425604 |
Nov 2002 |
US |